Punk has been through some rough times. It’s been loved, feared, reviled, killed, rekindled, academicized, imported, mutated and borrowed from since Johnny Rotten first learned to scream and working white boys in Londontown first fell in love with dub system’s DIY culture.

Following in the curatorial footsteps of the Summer of Love exhibit, which also made a splash in New York this summer, Vienna’s Kunsthalle opened Punk. No One Is Innocent last week.

Like Summer of Love, Punk. No One Is Innocent tries to capture the signification-destroying spirit of the movement through its relics, art and artifacts — creating a fascinating and eclectic scrapbook experience.

But, also like Summer of Love, the best thing is that these art and ephemera are grouped by birth location — New York, London and Berlin — highlighting punk’s global appeal as a youth power/art movement and the movements’ local productions.

Bond a little here.

In one of those incredible, posthumus collaborations that not only transcends life, but geographies, generations and artistic geniuses, DJ Spooky will be performing an original score alongside Senegalese director and inspiration Ousmane Sembène’s film Borom Sarret next Tuesday, May 27th at the French Institute Alliance Française in New York.

Hosted by Sembène’s close friend, Dr. Mamadou Diouf — director of Columbia University’s Institute for African Studies — this intimate evening of homage and celebration is the perfect close to the French Institute Alliance Française’s revolutionary month devoted to World Nomads, which included an impromptu dance party with Nigerian-German-Roma-French soul queen Ayo; dance by Reggie Wilson and Andréya Ouamba; a tour of contemporary African cinema influenced by Sembène’s groundbreaking films; and a lively discussion of Transculuralism with TRACE founder and Editor-in-Chief, Claude Grunitzky.

TRACE has been proud to be a media partner for this series.

Homage to Ousmane Sembène with DJ Spooky
$10 FIAF members/$15 non-members
Tuesday, May 27th, 7:00 pm
The French Institute Alliance Française
Florence Gould Hall
55 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues
New York, NY

Released on Tuesday, the latest intoxicating album by Groove Collective drummer and electronic whiz kid Genji Siraisi’s Surviving Freedom album has dominated my iPod’s heavy rotation speed dial since.

With atmospheric glitch-hop grooves steeped in cinematic clubspun downtempo, Surviving Freedom would be the soundtrack if David Mancuso’s Loft ever went on a liquid MDMA-fueled pirate space rave.

Fuel up with a little listen to the digital album here.

Some people just know how to bring the vibes, to put you at ease and make you feel all right. A good song or a talented musician could do the same, but of the many talented musicians, there are few whose music you can also feel coming straight from the heart.

Nneka falls into the latter category, expounding on the pain, joy and suffering of the people and things she has seen during her life, growing up in Warri Oil City in the Nigerian Delta and her solo journey at 19 to Germany, where she still resides.

Nneka’s blend of ragga, soul, hip hop and acoustic rhythms have brought about comparisons to Lauryn Hill, which is understandable as both women approach their music with an ethereal kind of passion, seriousness and devotion. But Nneka is no imitation of Ms. Hill — she stands on her own with the music that extends from her spirit.

Currently on tour in Europe promoting her second album, “No Longer at Ease“, Nneka’s single “Heartbeat” is heating up the charts with its staccato rhythms and pleading refrain. Nneka also expresses herself on “No Longer at Ease” in pidgin-english, bearing her soul and pain with social commentary depicting the plight of her people. And like her first album, “Victim of Truth”, it’s not devoid of drama.

Staving off the flu, she spoke with me about her inspirations and one day coming to New York with her guitar to spread the love. Good vibes indeed.

For more on Nneka, click here and buy her album here.

Trace: How do you think your journeys have affected your music?
Nneka: The journey here was a big step because I never planned to go to Germany — it happened suddenly and I had to deal with it by myself and I became a fighter. I was born in Nigeria and there the crime, the corruption, and everything — I saw it and I have to talk about it. Every day of my life inspires me and it 100% influences what I write.

T: Has language helped or hindered what you want to say or express in your music?
N: I have my way of expressing myself and I don’t think it changed that much through my experiences. Although I moved, I didn’t have to change the words I used but what I speak about has changed. I am a very protective person but I learned to be very straightforward with my music. I have more courage to speak my mind.

T: Your album titles, “Victim of Truth” and “No Longer at Ease” seems to hint at a loss of innocence and many of your songs, at a sadness. What do the album titles mean to you? What influenced them?
N: I dedicated my album to my family in Nigeria and their struggles influenced the album titles. Shell [the gas company] has exploited the Nigerian Delta for the past 60-70 years. The area is now an environmental concern; they have a lot of pollution and sicknesses such as asthma. People are dying and losing their lives.

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The art of Graffiti is no longer done solely as a hobby. Its popularity has stretched across a vast number of locations, gracing the unsuspecting walls and rooftops of the world. From South Africa to Italy, Australia, Germany and back to the U.S., graffiti artists have been leaving their mark.

In 2003 these daredevil artists were rewarded for their efforts in what has become the largest graffiti battle in the world, Write4Gold. Originating in Europe, Write4Gold brings together graffiti artists who compete for money and fame. It became global in 2006, and since then has marked its territory as one of the most highly anticipated events in the street art culture.

Events take place in the Baltics, Austria, Russia, Denmark and several other locations where they choose finalists for the World Finals, which is held in Germany.

The competition is split up into four categories: concept painting, freestyle throw ups, freestyle tagging and freestyle sketching. The entire event is free to the public and takes place all day, with live band performances and graffiti showcases.

The Budapest competition has found itself a new venue, Mokka Cuka, and takes place this Saturday at 10 am. The competition will feature DJ Swamp, the Vinyl Warriors, and DJ Rocksteady along with other performances and popular Hungarian break dance teams.

Click here for more info and here for some dope videos from previous years here.

Other Upcoming Events Include:

Date: 06.14.2008

Loc: Skaters Palace, Dahlweg 12648153, Münster, Germany

Details: for all crews from Germany, Belgium. Netherlands, Luxemburg, UK, Switzerland

Date: 06.21.2008

Loc: Skatepark Adrenalin, Moscow, Russia

Details: for all crews from Commonwealth of Independent States

Date: 06.29.2008

Loc: Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, Denmark

Details: for all crews from Denmark,Sweden, Finalnd and Norway.

interview_Shawn Lawrence James // ph_Rahan Cotterel

Meshing an around the way cool with even fresher perspectives way across the Atlantic, writer/blogger Shauna Barbosa builds with Stylistics on her sophisticated funk, trendspotting, and dicets the science of chic.

Name: Shauna Barbosa
Better Known As: SB, Elle
Age: Late 80’s
Occupation: HBIC at Let’s Just Eat Cheese, Freelance Writer, Corporate Publishing

Born: Roxbury, MA by way of Cape Verde
Based: New York City

Define your style.
Funky, sassy, sophisticated, and down right gutsy. You ever see someone wear red pumps in the snow? Suede boots in the snow?

The older women in my life heavily influence my style. My mentors have taught me so much about walking into a room, making my clothing work for me. And I just can’t complain about the Prada, JP Tod’s, Louis Vuitton, YSL, Flavi Olivera and countless other vintage gems bestowed upon me from real women — real life trendsetters.

Do you draw any inspiration from your Cape Verdean upbringing?
Cape Verdean fashion is very much inspired by American culture. People like to keep up with Americans. However, the traditional dress is very original, tropical, and inspired by Portuguese and African culture. Brazil also shares similar taste in style because of European influences. Remember, Brazil was also colonized by the Portuguese so we have a lot of similar cultural traits.

While we’re trying to keep up with Western fashion, at the same time there’s always a touch of Cape Verde in the way we dress. Whether it’s jewelry or a wearing a traditional wrap around the waist.

Just being Cape Verdean is individuality. We fight to be recognized. I mean, we get excited to see our country on the map. With that passion and our mix of cultures, it undoubtedly influences how we carry ourselves.

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Thinking outside the box usually represents a paradigm with the ability to slay with conformity all those who try to embrace it. Within the music industry, many feign standing out but instead, like lepers, swiftly jump into a box they cannot escape. Not so for Natty, whose acute understanding of diverse musical forms has him acting as welder, fusing the sounds with a fiery guitar strum.

Hailing from North London, the 24-year-old singer, songwriter and performer is prepped to deliver his signature blend of “mix up” music to the masses and so far, the response has been pretty good in his native UK. Without the ordinary boundaries of genre, Natty has room to do what he wants and what listeners get in the end are solid tunes that span the breadth of afrobeat, hip-hop, reggae, folk and rock.

Natty steps to the mic with a number of grievances about the realities of urban life; anger accompanied by a cool older brother’s sense of reflection and understanding. His star rose last year after quitting work as a studio engineer to pursue his own music. Since then, he signed to Atlantic Records and his “intelligent words on racial issues” have also led to involvement with Love Music Hate Racism and a track, “If Is” on their benefit album.

Working toward social change and setting up youth workshops, Natty hopes “will be something else to talk about when the music is done talking.”

I had a chance to speak with Natty on the day his “Cold Town” EP dropped and — even if he will hesitate to call himself a star — it is safe to say the charismatic performer has star power.

Natty’s full-length debut, “Man Like I” will be released on July 14. Until then, check him out on MySpace or at one of his many shows in the UK through the summer.

TRACE: You started out engineering at Sphere Studios in London’s Battersea; could you describe how you got from behind the production boards to creating your own music?
Natty: I was creating music while I was at Battersea. I was kind of working there to have free studio time. I’d just be there, trying to do what I could early in the morning or after everyone went home. Even before I got there, I was writing music. I didn’t make the transition by working behind the boards and then one day deciding to go into the booth. I just stopped working in the studio and started doing open mics and everything kind of went from there.

T: You have mentioned Lee “Scratch” Perry as one of your musical influences, who are some others?
N: Fela Kuti and Neil Young. Common is a big contemporary one too. I also like Miles Davis for the space he creates with his music.

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When House meets Electro meets bamboo earrings meets rope chains meets conspicuously- dressed high fashion gals and guy-gals channeling the likes of Richard Avedon in a basement club, you’ve stumbled upon one of the most eclectic nights of the week! Hosted weekly by Nacho Biz, “self expression” means to turn up the volume – and by this I mean until the neighbors complain!

If you’re looking for another facet to L.A., then Mustache is sure to provide a cultural gathering of oddity and amazement. Homosexuals, heterosexuals, drag queens, androgyny, vogue battles and a great DJ rotation is sure to welcome you. The permeating sounds of Santogold, Yelle, Estelle and Fedde Le Grand waft through the downtown alleyways by DJ’s Victor Rodriguez, Josh Peace and Dino Dinco. Please note, spread like the red sea once the cat walking queer shenanigans begin.

This underground scene, literally, is a place to revel in the synergy of other like-minded cultural creators. Nestled in the historic downtown Los Angles district, this gathering of artists, dancers, singers, and oddity is surely worth a visit!

The weekly performances at midnight are certainly captivating and quite enough to keep coming back. Past performances have included Jonté, Le Tigre and resident club socialite, Fade-Dra, who continues to deliver every week — in about seven inch heels nonetheless.

More information here.

Following up on the success of MG1 Brazil, Mexico-born artist/graphic and apparel designer Marka27 has recently released his new limited edition minigods, called MG2 Mexico. Inspired by the pre-Columbian gods of his motherland, Marka’s mini g.o.d.s — i.e. Givers Of Divine Sounds — are true works of art with a function.

Boasting an even larger and more impressive 17-inch shell and equipped with a working speaker that you can hook up to your laptop or iPod, the new MG2 even comes with an AC adapter so you don’t have to worry about recharging your batteries.

Marka27’s trademark style of combining symbolic elements from ancient indigenous cultures with futuristic aesthetic no doubt will impress die-hard vinyl toy collectors and contemporary urban art aficionados alike. I’ve already got my hands on his Gold SDCC Exclusive Minigods, and all I can say is that even if you are not a collector of vinyl toys, any one of the minigods will be worth all your investment.

When Marka is not busying himself with apparel and product design, you’ll find him channeling his creativity into more hands-on art projects, such as large-scale graffiti pieces, installations and fine art paintings. His work has been shown at the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston), S.M.F.A Grossman Gallery (Boston), Boston Center For the Arts, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (L.A), 33 1/3Books and Gallery (L.A.), Crewest Gallery (L.A.), Meltdown (L.A.), S.D Visual Artist Guild, Union 237 Gallery (Philadelphia), among others.

Peep his work here.

For French hip hop connoisseurs the name Kery James means talent, fierce lyrics, militant, controversy but also longevity. Alix Mathurin a.k.a. Kery James started his career at the age 13 with his friends Teddy Corona, Alter and DJ Mehdi of Ed Bangers fame with whom he started the group “Ideal Junior” — yes, Mehdi was and still is one France’s most innovative rap producers.

Together they released two critically acclaimed LPs “Original MC’s sur une mission” (1996) and “Le Combat continue” (1998) which turned them into one of France’s most respected hip hop acts. And then suddenly, after the tragic death of his best friend, James’s life took a radical turn; he converted to Islam and decided to put an end to his promising career. But not for long, it seems that the call of the mic was too strong to resist and in 2001 he put out one of his most personal and accomplished works to date.

On “Si c’etait a refaire” (2001) Mathurin is honest, direct but also extremely vulnerable. He talks about his new faith, his inward struggle, his mistakes as a youth and does what he does best: he chronicles the life of young banlieusards.

Since then, his style has continually evolved, paying homage to his Islamic faith with the compilation “Savoir & vivre ensemble” (2004). On the following album, “Ma Vérité” (2005), he teamed with his old posse, DJ Mehdi and Teddy Corona.

Regardless of the ups and downs that the majority of artists face, the fascinating aspect of Mathurin’s career is that there seems to be a invariable struggle between his old style and his newfound values — something that he balances successfully on his newest album, “A l’ombre du show-business” — literally, “in the Shadow of Show business“.

On his first week of release, the album was ranked 3rd on the French charts; this is an outstanding achievement for the French hip hop movement and, on personal level, for Mathurin whose song “Hardcore” was heavily censured by the French media.

After a memorable performance yesterday at Montreal’s Club Soda, Kery James will be playing tonight at Quebec City’s Dagobert at 8:30 pm.

Click here for more info on the show and here to check out Kery James’s updates.